Nicaragua
Insights into cooperation with Nicaragua. © SDC
Area: 130,370 km2
Population: 6.95 million
GDP per capita: USD 2,255 (PPP: USD 6,875)
Priority country since 1993
In July 1979, the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza was brought to an end after a civil war in Nicaragua. Switzerland responded immediately with humanitarian aid for the country's reconstruction and recovery, followed by an expansion into development cooperation activities in 1982. This approach was in line with the overall Swiss policy for Latin America, namely focusing on longer-term aid in the poorest countries of the region. Effective cooperation was possible with the Sandinista socialist government at the time, and the thematic priorities were similar to those in neighbouring Honduras: local water supply and wastewater disposal systems with with clear lines of responsibility, agricultural development that included particularly disadvantaged population groups, and the strengthening of SMEs across entire value chains. Starting in 1993, activities were carried out under a regional programme (for Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador). Between 1999 and 2012, joint SDC and SECO strategies were implemented. The inclusion in particular of budgetary aid under the economic policy measures helped support the country's reforms and was linked to a more in-depth policy dialogue, making Nicaragua a pilot country for the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which calls for greater responsibility for aid recipient states.
Civic participation
In recent years, Nicaragua has seen an intensification of repressive, authoritarian tendencies, even as its external security has been assured. This has made Switzerland's cooperation activities in the field of governance even more important, focusing in particular on civic participation – already part of many previous projects – the rule of law, human rights, and organisations advocating these values. As climate change has intensified in recent years, the sustainable use of natural resources has become increasingly important across various activities, including disaster prevention.
